Dont Miss Out On Your Next Big Career Opportunity- The Muse

Dont Miss Out On Your Next Big Career Opportunity- The MuseDont Miss Out On Your Next Big Career Opportunity- The MuseMaybe you have a five-year plan, maybe youre more the vision boarding type, or maybe theres just a specific promotion youre gunning for, but no matter how you think about the future of your career, you probably do have some idea of where youre headed next. And thats great Planning is an important step in making koranvers you continue to move forward. But sometimes, fantastic opportunities arent located on that plan you so clearly laid out. And by sticking to your long-term vision so closely, you dont give yourself the chance to even stumble across them.So, how can you toe the line between staying focused and driven on the path youre on while still remaining open to new routes that may pop up? Here are four ideas.1. Clear Your Head OftenTo keep an open mind, it helps to start with a clear one- uncluttered from the demands of both work and life. Its hard to spot new opp ortunities when youre preoccupied by an upcoming client deadline, your bosss request for more data, and your significant others birthday partey complications.So make it part of your weekly schedule to do what you need to do to clear your head- whether thats by exercising, meditating, writing in a journal, or really anything that makes you feel less stressed and ready to be in the moment. Your method doesnt matter as much as your commitment to doing it. Not only is this good for your heath in general, itll make the necessary mental space for you to mull over new possibilities.2. Get Outside Your NetworkYou likely already have a solid network in your current industry- and you should definitely continue to cultivate those relationships for all the obvious reasons.But you should also develop relationships with interesting people outside your inner circle. Start with people in other departments at your company (you already have something in common)- they could help you see interesting gr owth paths or potential projects at work. Attend an event in a totally different industry that youve always been curious about. Sure, it might feel awkward to be, say, the only non-salesperson at an event about sales tactics, but if youre genuinely curious and open, you may end up having really great conversations with people who are happy to talk about their own careers with you. When youre speaking with these people, go deep. Remember Youre not there to find a new job, these conversations should be about different industries, upcoming projects, big ideas, and anything else you dont typically discuss in your own circles. While it may not be obvious how these people can help out your career, they may end up sharing interesting opportunities with you down the road. Or, at the very least, sparking new ideas for you to think about.Check Out Big Career Opportunities at Enterprise HoldingsOur OfficeSee Their Open Jobs At Enterprise Holdings3. Say Yes MoreWere not suggesting that you say yes to every little thing that comes across your plate. Thats asking to get stressed out- and fast. (Not to mention, itll defeat any head clearing you do.) But start saying yes to those little ideas that come into your head and spark a little excitement in you- again, even if they dont make complete sense with your current plan. Maybe saying yes is asking your boss if you can learn a little more about a position that recently opened up in your department that youre not familiar with. Maybe its launching a book club at your office to turn your love of reading into something a little more. Maybe its finally taking that class to learn a random skill that has nothing to do with your career but youve always felt drawn to. Maybe its offering to help a friend with a side project shes working on because you care about the mission and like working with her.Whatever it is, look at your schedule and see if theres a way you can say yes more, even if its only in a small way. Doing this might jus t lead to a fun hobby or side project- but it could also lead to an opportunity you wouldnt have ever imagined. 4. Check In With Yourself- and OthersFinally, make the commitment to check in with yourself on a regular basis, to evaluate the work youre doing, as well as the work that you could be doing. Are you still happy? Challenged? Fulfilled? Are there new projects youd like to take on? New skills youd like to learn? New people youd like to meet? As you feel comfortable, it can be valuable to bring friends, mentors, or even your boss if youre close into this conversation. Talk to them about what youre learning about yourself through these exercises. Bring up any tension youre concerned about between these new insights and your original plan. Talk about your multiple passions and how youre having trouble bringing them all together into one cohesive career path. Their outside perspectives may help you find ways to bring everything together in a way that youre unable to see. Ultimate ly, this all comes back to staying curious in your career. Yes, you can have a plan and be driven toward working on that, but make sure you stop sometimes to look around you and see what else is out there. The options may surprise you.